A foreigner's journey

Izumo is now crowded with people.

Rather, well-informed believers and travelers from all over Japan are heading towards the Izumo Mountains.

As an autonomous territory known as extraterritoriality, every entry and exit checkpoint in Izumo is very strict, and it is extremely difficult to pass through without leaving fingerprints. The current situation has further increased the difficulty of entering Izumo, and there are long lines outside the checkpoint.

Jiu'er, a brilliant strategist, and Qi Qihua, the seventh generation head of Xu Dao Liu, were also among them.

The combination of a white-haired woman wearing luxurious single clothes and a bare-chested and extremely tall muscular man is usually enough to attract the attention of 99% of passers-by, but this time people's eyes were not on them at all. Instead, they were talking to each other excitedly.

"Is it true? The great god Susanoo really descended on Izumo Mountain?"

"Of course it's true. It is said that thousands of people witnessed it with their own eyes. Susanoo's majestic appearance made many monks change their faith."

"I really want to see with my own eyes the true face of Lord Su Zhanming!"

"Shh! You don't want your life! Many people say that when you look directly at the true form of Susanoo, your eyes will sting and you may even shed tears of blood. [God cannot be looked at directly]."

"That's right. After all, Susano-o is the complete god of destruction in myths and legends."

Listening to the conversations of people around them, Jiu'er and Qihua looked at each other and felt something strange.

"Jiu'er, the Susanoo god they are talking about is the one from mythology and legend?" Even Shichika heard her father and sister tell stories about the gods in Japanese mythology when she was a child.

The story of Susanoo is the most widely circulated, soul-stirring, and awe-inspiring legend in all Japanese mythology. He is also Shichika's favorite god.

Jiu'er frowned and nodded: "It sounds like it, but [the gods are coming]... This kind of nonsense is usually treated as a joke, but why do so many people believe it? With such a tight blockage, it seems that the sun We can’t enter the checkpoint before the mountain sets. We have to find a way to collect some information before heading to Izumo Mountain... Hey! Shichika! Wait a moment!"

As soon as Qihua heard that Jiu'er wanted to collect information, she immediately walked up to the two people chatting before, smiled and raised her hand to say hello: "Hey, good morning, both of you."

The two people talking looked up at the setting sun, then looked at Qihua: "Good morning, good morning."

There was hesitation and uncertainty in his tone. Qihua's tall figure of 1.96 meters really stood out from the crowd, which brought a lot of pressure to the two of them.

"Can I ask? What did you two talk about [Susano'o] before?"

"...Aren't you here to pay homage to Santu Shrine in Izumo Mountain?"

The two tourists looked a little suspicious. Ninety-nine percent of the people who came to Izumo at this time were going to Santu Shrine. This man and woman... were so weird.

Jiu'er couldn't hold himself back and came over: "We just heard some gossip, and it happens to be very close to Izumo, so we came to join in the fun. We still want to hear the opinions of the two intelligence experts."

"Hey hey hey, there's no such thing as an intelligence expert..." The two tourists waved their hands while rubbing the back of their heads and laughing.

After Jiuer kept talking, he finally figured out what a strange and major event had happened in Izumo.

He finally got into Izumo, thanks to the fact that Jiuer had the power of the shogunate as his backer. Even so, night had fallen by the time we passed the level.

But Izumo, which is usually quiet and peaceful, is now full of pedestrians, and even the night and cold wind cannot stop their enthusiasm.

On the road leading to the nearest town, pedestrians walked together in twos and threes. They held lanterns and chatted lively while walking on foot.

There were also noble nobles of noble birth riding in sedans carried by four cooks. The sedans were extremely ornately decorated, with exquisite little lanterns hung at the four corners. On the surface of the lanterns, there was a painting of Susano'o holding a ten-fist sword and stepping on the Yamata-no-Orochi. The patterns are painted vividly.

There were also many monks walking forward silently, looking very worried.

What's more, a huge float was built, which turned out to be a model of Susano'o woven from paper and bamboo. A group of people laughed loudly, sang and danced towards the Izumo Mountains, adding to the extremely deserted scenery on weekdays. The roads create a lively atmosphere that can only be found in Kyoto.

"It's really amazing, it's like celebrating a festival." Qihua carried a huge luggage and put her right hand between her eyebrows, looking like she was enjoying herself.

Jiu'er frowned: "The true god has come, and he is the most destructive and respected [Susano'o] by the Japanese. I think the battle is a bit smaller now. Sure enough, the news has not been completely circulated. "

"Is this battle still young?" Qihua was startled. He had never seen such a lively scene since he grew up on an uninhabited island.

"Idiot! Think about it, the great god Susanoo, who can smash seven mountains with one sword, has come to the world. This is an unprecedented thing. After the initial surprise and panic, all forces must be thinking about how to please the gods or get rid of them. Get some benefits, no matter how bad you are, you can't be targeted by that violent God of Destruction."

The more Jiuer thought about it, the angrier he became, and he kicked the pebbles on the road angrily:

"It's really annoying. In this way, Santu Shrine has become a [Holy Land] that ordinary people cannot easily access. It is not easy to obtain [Thousand Swordsman] from the master of the temple there!"

Qihua said with a smile: "No problem, Jiu'er will definitely be able to come up with a solution. You are a great strategist. I am your sword. As long as you give the order, I will faithfully execute your order."

Jiu'er's face turned red, and he said with a groan: "Hmph... This, this is natural. I always have no plans left, just wait, I will definitely be able to come up with a perfect plan."

Just as the two were flirting, Qihua's eyes suddenly focused, she held Jiu'er's waist and put her behind her, and at the same time lowered her body slightly and looked forward.

In the middle of the road directly in front of them, stood a man wearing a bamboo hat, about five feet four inches tall, with a long knife on his waist, silent.

"Who is coming? Tell me your name!" Jiu'er poked his head out from behind Qihua and asked the toughest question in the most cowardly manner.

"Are they Mr. Qi Strategist and Mr. Rin Qihua?"

The blocker took off his bamboo hat. He was a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance and a slightly darker complexion. He took it out of his arms, then held a letter and handed it to Qihua:

"Japan's strongest swordsman, Qiang Baibing, issues a challenge to you."

Qihua was stunned for a moment, then looked down at Jiu'er: "This...should I take it?"

"catch!"

Jiu'er had no doubt about Qihua's strength, and the latter obediently stepped forward and accepted the challenge. Before asking for details, the blocker had already put on his hat and left in a hurry, as if his only mission was to submit a letter of challenge.

Qihua scratched her head and turned to look at Jiu'er: "What a strange person, Jiu'er, what was written in the letter?"

"It's not a letter, it's a challenge."

Jiu'er quickly scanned the challenge letter by the light of the lantern and raised his eyebrows:

"It's really like that guy, a man with ancient style... He wrote his opinion in a long and polite tone, and summarized the meaning of the text into words that you can understand - [The Sword of Shikisaki Chronicles] Let’s duel as a bet].”

"So direct."

"Well, it's more than that."

Jiu'er shook the letter paper and looked gloomy:

"The challenge also said that Qiang Baibing had already issued a letter of challenge to Heather."

"Heather... I remember this man, a very powerful one-armed swordsman. What's the matter? Is there a problem with Qiang issuing a challenge to Heather?"

"Of course, because this means that Heather has also obtained at least one Shikisaki Kiki's sword."

Jiu'er sighed and looked in the direction of Izumo Mountain:

"In other words, he is also our enemy now."